Haryana: Inter-caste weddings witness upward trend in state

Era of honour killings seems to be phasing out in Haryana, which witnessed 350 such killings during the past four years, with young boys and girls preferring inter-caste marriages, though slowly. As many as 635 persons _ both male and female _ of general category got them married in 2018.Upper and lower caste is no issue and the number of inter-caste marriages has gone up. Though, credit goes to government also to some extent. It is pertinent to mention that social scenario has witnessed huge change because the number of inter caste marriage has increased up to two and half folds. Trend of inter-caste was started increasing after 2014. While 249 inter-castemarriages took place involving persons from the SC and BC categories in 2014. In 2015, the number of such marriages went up to 359. The data reveals that 1,758 people had got married in some other caste during the past four years. It came to know that there were 359 cases of intercaste marriage in 2015 as compared to 249 in 2014.It indicates the change in society and people about marriages within caste. A spurt in inter-caste marriages has been noticed as this number goes up to 465 in 2016. Social structure and traditions are getting changed with the passage of time and the awareness is taking place among the people. Also 684 male and female got married in other caste in 2017 and this year has witnessed 638 inter caste marriages in Haryana so far which is a positive sign for the state. However, more continuous efforts are need to get rid of honour killings which are proving harmful to the state. It is matter of serious concern. It has damaged image of Haryana across country. Rohtak, Panipat, Sonipat, Hisar, Jhajjar, Jind, Karnal, Bhiwani and Kaithal districts constitute one fourth of the total killings in the name of honour killing. The government has been making efforts to promote communal harmony and encouraging inter-caste marriages. In view of this, a scheme has been launched.